PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Bachelor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Augusto Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bachelor
vs
Vera

186 cm
19
219 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

205 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Bachelor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Augusto Vera!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bachelor gets the takedown into side control.
Vera parries the strikes from Bachelor easily there. Bachelor is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Vera to escape.
Vera sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bachelor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vera is staying active underneath Bachelor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vera.

Bachelor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vera is on top in guard.
Vera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachelor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bachelor keeping full guard, as Vera tries to pass.
Bachelor keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bachelor wants to stand and escape but Vera is having none of it.
Vera has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bachelor is proving hard to escape from.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bachelor tries to clinch up but Vera circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Bachelor misses.

Bachelor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vera drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bachelor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bachelor misses the jab.
Bachelor shoots in for a takedown but Vera shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bachelor stuffs the takedown attempt from Vera. Vera gets slowly back to his feet.
Vera tries to clinch but Bachelor is having none of it.

Bachelor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vera, pushing him back against the cage.
Vera wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bachelor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vera's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bachelor drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vera pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vera circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bachelor throws a series of punches but Vera avoids them all with ease.
Vera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bachelor manages to avoid it.
Vera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bachelor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bachelor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bachelor swats away the attempt to clinch by Vera.
Bachelor with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vera counters with a three punch combo that has Bachelor backing up. Bachelor nods at Vera to acknowledge the strikes.
Bachelor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vera tries to clinch up but Bachelor circles away and keeps his distance.
Bachelor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bachelor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
John Bachelor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bachelor closes the distance looking to clinch

so Vera counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Vera trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vera passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachelor tries to kick Vera off but Vera keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Vera content to control rather than advance.
Vera trying to mount his opponent but Bachelor defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vera is trying to control. Bachelor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bachelor tries to get to full guard but Vera has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vera displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Vera has a takedown stuffed.
John Bachelor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bachelor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Vera counters by clinching up.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bachelor.
Bachelor keeps control of Vera as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bachelor.
Vera has had enough of the clinch but Bachelor keeps him there for the moment.
Bachelor drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bachelor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bachelor gets through Vera's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Augusto Vera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bachelor.
Vera moves in looking to clinch but Bachelor pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bachelor tries to clinch but Vera is having none of it.
Bachelor fails with a takedown attempt.
Bachelor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vera will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bachelor wants to clinch up but Vera keeps it at a distance.
Vera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vera shoots in for a double leg but Bachelor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vera is looking to clinch but Bachelor is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bachelor misses with a double jab

and Vera counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vera.
Vera jumps guard but Bachelor stands there with Vera around his waist. Vera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
John Bachelor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Augusto Vera.
Nice elbow from Bachelor.

It looks like Augusto Vera has been cut.
A hook to the body from Bachelor.
Bachelor lands with a light punch inside.
Bachelor manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bachelor creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bachelor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Vera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bachelor just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Vera tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bachelor smiles and moves away.
Vera checks the leg kick.
Vera keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bachelor throws a hook but Vera blocks it.

Vera gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vera working hard to break the clinch.
Bachelor gets through Vera's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bachelor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vera blocking some punches.

Vera pulls guard.
Bachelor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vera is keeping the position for now.
Bacheloris looking to pass into half guard but Vera pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Vera is in guard.
Bachelor wants to hit a switch here but Vera passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bachelor there!
Vera looking to control but Bachelor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vera is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bachelor tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vera controlling his opponent.
Vera tries to control but Bachelor wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bachelor trying desperately to get to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Bachelor.
I think Bachelor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... John Bachelor!